Contact

Abstract

Described and illustrated is a contact with two opposing side walls, with a rear wall arranged between the side walls, wherein the side walls form a contact cage with the rear wall, and with a plug-in gap.The plug-in gap is formed by two opposing contact lips, each contact lip forming a contact surface, the contact surfaces of the contact lips facing each other, each contact lip being arranged in the contact cage so as to be substantially parallel to the side wall, each contact lip being formed by a side wall section bent into the contact cage, and the side wall section forming a free end facing away from its bending region, with a first plug-in direction along which a mating contact can be plugged into the plug-in gap, and each contact lip being equipped with at least one contact tip, the contact tips facing each other, and the contact tip of each contact lip forming the respective contact surface.

Description

[0001] The invention relates to a contact, with two opposing side walls, with a rear wall arranged between the side walls, wherein the side walls form a contact cage with the rear wall, with a plug-in gap, the plug-in gap is formed by two opposing contact lips, wherein each contact lip forms a contact surface, wherein the contact surfaces of the contact lips face one another, wherein each contact lip is arranged in the contact cage aligned substantially parallel to the side wall, wherein each contact lip is formed by a side wall section bent into the contact cage, wherein the side wall section forms a free end facing away from its bending region and with a first plug-in direction along which a mating contact can be plugged into the plug-in gap.

[0002] Such contacts are known from the state of the art, which cannot be documented in printed documents. They typically accommodate flat blade contacts in their mating gap and are used primarily for blade-type fuses, such as those regularly used in motor vehicles.

[0003] Such contacts are typically manufactured using a stamping and bending process. The contact lips forming the mating gap are manufactured to taper slightly toward each other in the mating direction. When inserting a mating contact, the contact lips are ideally spread so that they are aligned almost parallel to each other and rest against the mating contact, especially the flat blade contact, over a large area. This provides a sufficient contact surface to transfer sufficient current from the contact to the mating contact.

[0004] In reality, the aforementioned ideal state is rarely achieved. Manufacturing tolerances during contact production contribute to this, while material tolerances of the flat blade contact also play a role. Finally, due to specific installation situations, the flat blade contact often has to be inserted into the contact offset from the mating gap centerline, at a certain inclination, or even with a certain twist. This frequently results in a situation where full contact of both contact lips on the mating flat blade contact cannot be guaranteed.

[0005] In the case of a lateral offset from the center plane of the mating gap, one of the contact lips usually rests flat against the flat blade contact. The other contact lip, however, usually rests linearly against the contact blade with one edge of its free end.

[0006] If the flat blade contact is inclined toward the center plane of the mating gap, a maximum of two diagonally opposite contact lip surfaces can contact the flat blade contact if the contact lips are designed accordingly. However, in this case, only the edges of the contact lips, ideally broken during the stamping process, contact the flat blade contact.

[0007] Even a rotation of the flat blade contact around its vertical axis prevents the contact lips from contacting the entire surface on both sides.

[0008] If the contact and its mating contact are inserted in a position deviating from the ideal position, the contact surfaces are reduced, significantly degrading the transfer values ​​from the contact to the mating contact. Therefore, the theoretical electrical transmission capacity of state-of-the-art contacts, especially for high current transmission, is reduced to meet safety requirements.

[0009] The progressive electrification in all areas, in the automotive sector, for example, through various control units or even battery-electric drive components, and in mechanical and plant engineering through the use of electronic control units and servo motors, increasingly requires the transmission of high currents at sometimes comparatively low voltages in order to provide sufficient energy for the operation of various electrical components.

[0010] It is therefore an object of the invention to optimise the contact between a generic contact and its mating contact in the form of a flat blade contact, in particular the contact of a fuse carrier and a flat plug-in fuse, in order to be able to safely transmit high currents of up to 50 amperes, in particular at high ambient temperatures.

[0011] The object is achieved by a contact having the features of claim 1, in particular with its characterizing features, according to which each contact lip is provided with at least one contact tip, the contact tips face each other, and the contact tip of each contact lip forms the respective contact surface.

[0012] The contact tip, which is designed as a convexity extending into the mating gap, can compensate for the three deviations from the ideal position between the contact and the flat blade contact discussed above. The radius of the convexity guarantees a definable minimum contact surface for each of the deviations, even in the ideal position, so that the transmittable currents can be precisely calculated and guaranteed in real-world operation.

[0013] In a particularly preferred embodiment, it is provided that each contact tip extends parallel to the apex line of the bending region of that side wall section which is bent into the contact cage to produce the contact lip.

[0014] The ideal contact tip for a contact according to the invention is therefore elongated and essentially forms a section of the lateral surface of a cylinder. Particularly preferably, the contact tip extends over the entire length or the entire width—depending on the reference direction—of the contact lip. In this way, the contact tip maximizes the contact surface with the flat blade contact serving as the mating contact. Furthermore, the contact surface can be positively influenced by choosing a large radius for the contact tip curvature.

[0015] It is provided that each side wall section has at least one incision made parallel to the apex line and the contact lip is arranged between this incision and the free end of the side wall section.

[0016] In particular, it is provided that each contact lip forms a lip end in the region of the incision of the associated side wall section, which lip end is flared out along a bending axis running transversely to the apex line, widening the plug-in gap, wherein two opposite lip ends form a funnel-like plug-in guide.

[0017] This design offers two advantages. First, it allows for simplified insertion of a flat-blade contact.

[0018] Furthermore, this design of the contact lips is a prerequisite for enabling additional insertion directions for the mating contact, designed as a flat blade contact, in addition to the first insertion direction mentioned above. This will be discussed later.

[0019] It is particularly preferred that the respective contact tip extends into the flared lip end.

[0020] If the contact tip extends into the flared lip end, the mutual contact surface of contact and mating contact can be further improved in a position that deviates from the ideal position, particularly if the mating contact is inclined in the mating gap.

[0021] It is particularly preferred that each side wall section has two incisions arranged on an incision line lying parallel to the apex line, each contact lip thus forms two mutually opposite lip ends, and the mutually opposite contact lips form two mutually opposite, funnel-like plug-in guides.

[0022] The invention is further characterized in that the plug-in gap is arranged opposite the rear wall.

[0023] The invention provides that the first plug-in direction is directed transversely to the rear wall.

[0024] This design has the primary advantage that the curved areas of the side walls, created by bending into the contact cage to create the contact lips, form a first funnel-like insertion contour for the mating contact. Thus, no additional plug-in guides are required to implement the first plug-in direction.

[0025] Nevertheless, it is possible to align a second plug-in direction parallel to the vertex line; in particular, a third plug-in direction can also be parallel to the vertex line, but opposite to the second plug-in direction.

[0026] These two additional plug-in directions can be realized, especially when the aforementioned funnel-like plug-in guides are created by extending the ends of the contact lips. This makes it possible to realize up to two additional plug-in directions in addition to the first plug-in direction, enabling a highly versatile contact.

[0027] The contact according to the invention is intended to be part of a printed circuit board populated with components. Therefore, it is important to ensure that the contact cage forms at least one solder connection on a lower side.

[0028] The solder terminals can be designed for through-hole plating through the circuit board. It is also possible to design the solder terminals as SMD terminals and to incorporate positioning protrusions on the contact, which ensure the correct alignment of the contact on the circuit board for component assembly.

[0029] In this sense, it is then provided that the second plug-in direction is directed towards the underside of the contact cage, whereby it can additionally be provided that the third plug-in direction is directed towards the top side of the contact cage.

[0030] Further advantages of the invention and a better understanding of the same will become apparent from the description of an exemplary embodiment. In the following: Figure 1: a perspective view of a contact according to the invention in view of the plug-in gap, Figure 2: the contact according to Figure 1 in view of its rear wall, Figure 3: the contact according to Figure 1 in view of its side wall according to view arrow III in Figure 2 , Figure 4: a view of the contact after Figure 1 according to view arrow IV in Figure 2 , Figure 5: a view of the plug-in gap of the contact according to Figure 1 according to view arrow V in Figure 3 , Figure 6: a view along section line AA in Figure 5 , Figure 7: a view according to section line BB in Figure 4 , Figure 8: a view according to section line CC in Figure 4, Figure 9: a second embodiment of the contact according to the invention in a perspective view of the plug-in gap, Figure 10: a third embodiment of a contact according to the invention in a perspective view of its plug-in gap.

[0031] In the figures, a contact according to the invention is provided with the reference number 10 throughout. Since this contact 10 is intended for the transmission of high currents due to its inventive design, it is also referred to as a high-current contact 10.

[0032] In Figure 1 The high-current contact 10 is shown in perspective. It has a rear wall 11 arranged between a first side wall 12 and a second side wall 13. The side walls 12, 13, together with the rear wall 11, form a contact cage 14.

[0033] The first side wall 12 has a first side wall section 15, which is bent inward by approximately 165 degrees to 180 degrees into the contact cage 14, thus forming a first bending region 16. Thus, the free end of the first side wall section 15 points toward the rear wall 11.

[0034] The second side wall 13 forms a second side wall section 17. This second side wall section 17 is also bent by approximately 165 degrees to 180 degrees into the contact cage 14, creating a second bending area 18. Here, too, the free end of the second wall section 17 points toward the rear wall 11 of the high-current contact 10.

[0035] The first side wall section 15 of the first side wall 12 forms a first contact lip 19, the second side wall section 17 of the second wall 13 forms a second contact lip 20. Between the contact lips 19, 20, the contact 10 forms a plug-in gap S.

[0036] Finally, the contact 10 in its embodiment according to Figure 1 via two solder connections 21 in the form of solder legs 22, which are intended to be inserted into corresponding openings of a printed circuit board and soldered there.

[0037] Figure 2 shows a view of the rear wall 11 of the contact 10. Using the Figure 1 It is clear that the rear wall is connected to the side walls 12, 13 via a curved section 23 each.

[0038] A support web 24 projects from the underside of the contact 10 carrying the solder connections 21, which supports the support fingers 25 of the side walls 12, 13 (see Figure 1 ) in a manner to be described later.

[0039] Figure 3 is a side view according to view arrow III in Figure 2. Here we are looking at the first side wall 12, whereby the following statements apply equally to the second side wall 13. First of all, the curved section 23 is visible here, to which the side wall 12 of a rear wall 11 is connected. In Figure 3 One can also see the support web 24 of the rear wall 11 and the solder connection 21, which in this embodiment is designed as a solder leg 22. On the front side facing the rear wall 11, the first bending area 16 can be seen, which is created by bending the first side wall section 15 into the contact cage 14.

[0040] The first side wall 12 forms a support finger 25 toward the contact underside. For this purpose, a bending cut B is provided so that the support finger 25 is formed below the bending area 16. The bending cut B is thus arranged between the first bending area 16 and the support finger 25 and enables the first side wall section 15 to be bent into the contact cage without deforming the support finger 25.

[0041] Figure 10 Furthermore, it can be seen that the support web 24 and the support finger 25 end in a common support plane A towards the underside of the contact. The top side of the circuit board, on which the contact 10 is arranged, is arranged in this plane. The support web 24 and the support fingers 25 of the side walls 12, 13 ensure a vertical alignment of the contact 10 on a circuit board.

[0042] Figure 4 shows a view of the underside of the contact 10 according to view arrow IV in Figure 2 . This figure first shows that the sidewall sections 15 and 17 are not bent completely 180 degrees into the contact cage 14, but rather have a somewhat smaller bending angle, here approximately 175 degrees. This results in a wedge-shaped taper of the plug-in gap S, which is only widened upon the insertion of a mating contact (not shown), in particular a flat-blade contact. This ensures contact pressure of the contact lips 19, 20 against the flat-blade contact.

[0043] Figure 4 It can also be seen that both contact lips 19, 20 each form a first contact tip 26 and a second contact tip 27, respectively. Both contact tips 26, 27 face each other and further narrow the plug-in gap S. They have a curved surface, which can be formed as a partial section of a cylindrical surface.

[0044] Figure 5shows a view of the front side of the contact 10 opposite the rear wall 11. Here, one has a view into the plug-in gap S, in which the contact tips 26, 27 are formed facing each other on the contact lips 19, 20. In addition, the apex lines L are shown (see also Figure 1 ), which each represent the apex of the bending areas 16, 18.

[0045] Figure 8 is a sectional view according to section line CC in Figure 4. Shown is an internal view of the contact cage 14 looking at the inner surface of the first side wall 12. It is shown here that the first side wall section 15 has two incisions 28. The incisions 28 lie on an incision line Z, which is aligned parallel to the apex line L. The first incision 28 is made in the first side wall section 15 from the top side of the contact. The second incision 28 is made in the first side wall section 15 from the bottom side of the contact. A material web 29 remains between the incisions 28. The first contact lip 26 is thus formed between these incisions 28 and the free end of the first side wall section 15.

[0046] The first contact lip 19 forms an upper and lower lip end 30 in the region of each notch 28. Each lip end 30 is flared along a bending axis Y toward the first side wall 12. The bending axis Y runs orthogonal to the apex line L.

[0047] The second side wall 13 with its second side wall section 17 is designed accordingly.

[0048] If we now look back at Figure 5 , it can be seen that the flared lip ends 30 of the contact lips 19, 20 form a funnel-like plug-in guide F from both the top and bottom of the contact. This facilitates the insertion of mating contacts, in particular flat blade contacts, from both the top and bottom of the contact.

[0049] What is important when considering the Figures 8 and 1as well as 5 and 7, is that the contact tips 26, 27 extend over the entire length parallel to the apex line of the contact tips 26, 27, right into the flared lip ends 30.

[0050] Figure 6 shows a cross section through the contact 10 according to section line AA in Figure 5 This illustration shows how the plug-in gap S is narrowed by the contact tips 26 and 27 entering the plug-in gap S. It is easy to imagine that the contact tips 26, 27 are capable of always establishing a defined contact surface when the mating contact is inserted offset, tilted, or twisted, thus reliably ensuring the transmission of even high currents.

[0051] Figure 7 is a longitudinal section according to section line BB in Figure 4. Here, the view starts from the rear wall 11 and is directed toward the front of the contact or toward the plug-in gap S. This illustration also shows how the plug-in gap S is formed between the contact lips 19, 20, whose lip ends 30, which extend toward the adjacent side wall 12, 13, form an upper and a lower plug-in guide F.

[0052] In connection with the other figures, especially with Figure 1 , it is now clear that a first plug-in direction runs orthogonally from the contact front toward the rear wall 11. Along this first plug-in direction, a flat blade contact can be inserted into the high-current contact 10 and is contacted via the contact tips 26, 27.

[0053] A second plug-in direction and a third plug-in direction can be defined from the top side of the contact or from the bottom side of the contact, i.e., orthogonal to the first plug-in direction or parallel to the apex line L. Flat blade contacts can also be inserted into the high-current contact 10 along these plug-in directions.

[0054] A printed circuit board arranged on the underside of the high-current contact 10 can have an opening aligned with the plug-in gap S so that the flat blade contact can be inserted into the high-current contact 10 through such a printed circuit board.

[0055] Figure 9shows a second embodiment of the high-current contact 10 according to the invention. This is largely identical to the previously described high-current contact 10. There are no significant differences, particularly in the area of ​​the contact lips 19 and 20 forming the plug-in gap S. Instead of the solder legs 22, this embodiment has contact feet 31, which are designed to rest on the contact surfaces of a printed circuit board and to be soldered thereto. A positioning pin 32 extends from the support web 24 and positions the high-current contact 10 in the correct position on the printed circuit board for subsequent soldering of the contact feet 31 to the contact surfaces.

[0056] The third embodiment according to Figure 10 equal to that of the Figure 9 . Here, too, it should be noted that with regard to the contact lips 19, 20 and the design of the plug-in gap, there is no difference to the first embodiment. Compared to the high-current contact 10 in Figure 9waives the embodiment according to Figure 10 on the positioning mandrel 32. List of reference symbols

[0057] 10 Contact / high-current contact 11 back wall 12 first side wall 13 second side wall 14 Contact cage 15 first side wall section 16 first bending area 17 second side wall section 18 second bending area 19 first contact lip 20 second contact lip 21 Solder connection 22 soldering pins 23 Curvature section 24 Support bar 25 Support finger 26 first contact tip 27 second contact tip 28 incision 29 Material bridge 30 lip end 31 Contact foot 32 Positioning mandrel F Plug-in guide A Support level S Plug-in gap Z incision line L apex line Y Bending axis B bending cut

Claims

1. Contact (10), - with two opposing side walls (12, 13), - with a rear wall (11) arranged between the side walls (12, 13), wherein the side walls (12, 13) form a contact cage (14) with the rear wall (11), - with a plug-in gap S, - the plug-in gap S is formed by two opposing contact lips (19, 20), wherein - each contact lip (19, 20) forms a contact surface, wherein - the contact surfaces of the contact lips (19, 20) face each other, wherein - each contact lip (19, 20) is arranged in the contact cage (14) aligned substantially parallel to the side wall (12, 13), wherein - each contact lip (19, 20) is formed by a side wall section (15, 17) bent into the contact cage (14), wherein - the side wall section (15, 17) forms a free end facing away from its bending region (16, 18), - with a first plug-in direction along which a mating contact can be inserted into the plug-in gap S characterized in that- each contact lip (19, 20) is equipped with at least one contact tip (26, 27), - the contact tips (26, 27) face each other, - the contact tip (26, 27) of each contact lip (19, 20) forms the respective contact surface.

2. Contact according to claim 1, characterized in that each contact tip (26, 27) extends parallel to the apex line L of the bending region (16, 18) of that side wall section (15, 17) which is bent into the contact cage (14) to produce the contact lip (19, 20).

3. Contact according to claim 2, characterized in that each side wall section (15, 17) has at least one incision (28) made parallel to the apex line L and the contact lip (19, 20) is arranged between this incision (28) and the free end of the side wall section (15, 17).

4. Contact according to claim 3, characterized in thateach contact lip (19, 20) forms a lip end (30) in the region of the incision (28) of the associated side wall section (15, 17), which lip end is flared out along a bending axis Y running transversely to the apex line L, widening the plug-in gap S, wherein two opposite lip ends (30) form a funnel-like plug-in guide F.

5. Contact according to claim 2 and 4, characterized in that the respective contact tip (26, 27) extends into the flared lip end (30).

6. Contact according to claim 3 and 4, characterized in that - each side wall section (15, 17) has two incisions (28) arranged on an incision line Z lying parallel to the apex line L, - each contact lip (19, 20) thus forms two mutually opposite lip ends (30), - the mutually opposite contact lips (19, 20) form two mutually opposite, funnel-like plug-in guides F.

7. Contact according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the plug-in gap S is arranged opposite the rear wall (11).

8. Contact according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the first plug-in direction is directed transversely to the rear wall (11).

9. Contact according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that a second plugging direction is aligned parallel to the apex line.

10. Contact according to claim 9, characterized in that a third plug-in direction is also parallel to the vertex line, but opposite to the second plug-in direction.

11. Contact according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the contact cage (14) forms at least one solder connection (21) on a lower side.

12. Contact according to claim 9 and 11, characterized in that the second plug-in direction is directed towards the underside of the contact cage (14).

13. Contact according to claim 10 and 11, characterized in thatthe third plug-in direction is directed towards the top of the contact cage (14).

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